Awards
2026 Festival Award Winners:
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Audience Award, Best Feature: Crystal Cross, writer/director Richie James Follin
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Audience Award, Best Short: Everything is the Fault of the Wind, directed by Shaghayegh Majidi
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Andrew Laszlo Visionary Award: Ruth De Jong
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Best Narrative Feature: A Woman’s Work, directed by A.R. Ephraim
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Best Documentary Feature: Jonnie, directed by Sabrina Lee
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Best Narrative Short: Townies (or, My Little Town), directed by Callum Adams
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Best Documentary Short (tie): Are You Native?, directed by Victoria Cheyenne
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Best Documentary Short (tie): Borrowed From the Earth, directed by Zach Johaneson
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Best College Short: Camino, directed by Eliot Grigo & Simon Schneider
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Made in Montana Award: Last Stand at Butte City, directed by Natalie Schwan
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Indigenous Film Award: Are You Native?, directed by Victoria Cheyenne
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Creativity Out of the Box Award: Thin Places, directed by Samuel Keshishian
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Impact Award: The Row, directed by Adam Trunell
Juried Awards
Our Jury reviews each film, then votes. The announcements will be made on Sunday, Oct 11, 9:30 AM–11:00 AM at the Ellen Theatre.
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Best Narrative Feature
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Best Documentary Feature
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Best Narrative Short
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Best Documentary Short
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Best College Short
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Made in Montana Award
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Indigenous Film Award
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Creativity Out of the Box Award
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Impact Award
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Audience Awards
The audience the opportunity to vote on each film they view The announcements will be made online and social media after the festival close.
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Audience Award for Best Feature
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Audience Award for Best Short
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The Laszlo Award
Honoring filmmakers whose work embodies innovation, artistic courage, and a distinct cinematic voice.
Inspired by the remarkable life and career of renowned Hungarian American cinematographer Andrew Laszlo (1926-2011), this award recognizes filmmakers who continually push the boundaries of cinematic artistry while creating emotionally resonant experiences for audiences.
